Nets' timely rebounds help drop Knicks in overtime

Barclays Center hosted a classic overtime gem in what was the first-ever matchup between the Nets and Knicks in the borough of Brooklyn.Alex Trautwig/Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets took round one of the battle of the boroughs in the only manner this matchup was deemed fit to end, with a 96-89 overtime win over the Knicks.

But amongst all the stars in that game, perhaps the most important player was a relative unknown to the casual fan, but also someone who's work ethic has long earned rave reviews from those in the know, power forward Reggie Evans.

Deron Williams may have dazzled more with 16 points and 14 assists, and center Brook Lopez might've dominated more with a 22-point, 11-rebound performance, but it was the 6-foot-8, 250-pound Evans who arguably had the biggest impact on the outcome. Evans recorded a game-high 14 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action, and his energy gave the Knicks fits all night. Evans, who leads the league with the most rebounds off the bench with 8.5 per, made the difference, as the Nets (9-4) moved into a first-place tie with the Knicks (9-4) in the Atlantic Division.

New York has had trouble crashing the boards all season, as they're ranked 28th in total rebounds. And although they actually stayed in-step with the Nets in that category, 50-50, it was when the Nets made their stops and grabbed the caroms that had a true affect on the outcome.

Carmelo Anthony technically didn't start at power forward, 40-year old Kurt Thomas did, but the 6-foot-7 Anthony still ripped down a team-high 13 rebounds. Anthony also registered a game-high 35 points on 11-of-25 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc in a game-high 50 minutes.

Tyson Chandler was the only other Knicks' player to record double-digits in rebounding, as he grabbed 10. But it was the rebound that Chandler couldn't get in the Knicks' final possession of regulation that tipped the momentum in the Nets' favor. As they were allowed new life, Brooklyn took full advantage in the extra frame as they outscored the Knicks, 12-5.

The Nets were crashing the boards so well that even Lopez showed up on the glass, as seven of his caroms came on offensive rebounds. The 7-foot Lopez, who's averaged 7.4 rebounds per game in his career, has never been known to be a terror on the box, but he really imposed his will against a Knicks' interior that's suddenly been slipping in recent games.

As the Knicks begin to come back down to earth a bit, and teams are starting to figure out their weaknesses -- as they've now lost three of their last four -- it's up to head coach Mike Woodson to make the necessary adjustments.

Or else the "Brooook-lynnnn" chants may soon start to spread over the East River and into Manhattan.